Council Congratulates Former Chief On CBE HonourThursday 16th June, 2005

Birthday Honours: Former Wigan Council Chief Executive Steve Jones pictured at Wigan Pier with children from Sithobelumthetho School in South Africa, which he support.

‘Enjoy your day at the palace Steve!’

That’s the message from everyone at Wigan Council after hearing their recently retired Chief Executive Steve Jones is to receive the CBE in the Queen’s Official Birthday Honours. The top-performing chief executive, who retired from the helm of Wigan Council last month, is to be awarded the honour Commander of the Order of the British Empire for Services to Local Government.

Steve was chief executive for the borough council for 15 years and during that time one of his many achievements was to steer the authority to being one of the very few to be rated ‘excellent’ by the Audit Commission three years in a row.

Steve has also been the driving force behind several major schemes, including the redevelopment of Robin Park and plans for Leigh Sports Village as well as leading the borough’s crime fighting partnership.

On his retirement Steve said he would like to do more work for the South African Sithobelumthetho school that he sponsors and he will also agreed to work with SOLACE (the Society for Local Authority Chief Executives) to organise training for new chief executives.